Charleston Village Annual Report/ Finances -2015

Charleston Village Annual Report for 2015
The in-kind donations continue to help us thrive and survive with all the projects we have taken on in this Lorain’s oldest neighborhood. For every dollar in cash we receive three times the donations with in-kind support of materials labor and equipment. We could not attempt these projects or their upkeep without the partnerships and in kind donations.

As in previous years 100% of all money collected goes toward the project for which it is designated.
We filed our IRS form for our non- profit for 2016 and were, I am pleased to say, accepted
E-File Postmark: Filed January 19th 2016- accepted January 19th-2016

After many years of patiently waiting a new sidewalk replaces the old
and you will notice the old wooden light poles that have stood forlornly waiting for removal have finally gone! Thank you Councilman Faga! Diane has continued to support and look for support for the cemetery and has recently plotted the burials
Without Diane’s volunteers and passion this oldest cemetery would be non-existent. She has been the driving force once more re planting, clean-up, preserving the history and the headstones. You can find the listing of the names here https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2016/01/11/a-cemetery-tale-charleston-village-lorain/
Diane gratefully received a donation from Black River Genealogists to carry on her efforts in preserving history.

Settlers’ Watch:

Photo by Mark Teleha

Our constant gardener Joe, has planted some wonderful new plants and shrubs. The old bed, that was running amuck with over growth behind the bench, at Eric Barnes Eagle has been revamped. The shrubs and plants were moved elsewhere on the site and replaced with a wonderfully fragrant rose garden thanks to a donation for the roses.

This summer should find honeysuckle and roses blooming together. The plans are for the overgrown plants around Eric Barnes Eagle to be thinned and more roses and a color scheme of “red white and blue” honoring the patriotism and sacrifice of the sons of Lorain reflected in the planting.

All of the carvings have now been moved from the tree lawn, where they were exposed to salt etc. and are waiting for warmer weather to be refurbished and placed on the concrete plinths( Thanks to Falbo Concrete) in and amongst Settlers’ Watch and Eric Barnes Heroes Walk.
The Captain continues to be stabilized thanks to Frank Sipkovsky and Ernest Ritchey.

Once again members of Lorain Rotary – thanks to Phil Dore– were there in force on Lorain Pride Day to weed, whack and mulch. Without the volunteers we would be in a sorry state.
Just behind the fence and grapevines , the fruit of which was literally gobbled up by the thirsty birds this year, you will see two new additions . Thanks to the Lorain Port Authority and Lorain Growth Corp the “Lighthouse Shed” was donated to the area – art work by Chris Ritchey 2002. The shed had a refurbish and will be used to not only provide a welcome but a place to store the things needed for the gardens.

Ed Cummins, local artist, donated and designed our very own hat tip to recycling (remembering that Settler’s Watch is 100% repurposed and recycled materials) and to Lorain’s maritime history. You will see the characters of the pioneers sailing into the harbor and the “trials” that would await them in the forms to the various sea monsters.

The Admiral King Tribute Site
Many, many thanks once again to the Lorain Utilities Dept. – under the direction of Ariel Vasquez and his crew.We replaced the flags, they only last a few weeks due to the wind and weather coming off the lake. Thanks to the Veterans Council of Lorain we received enough flags to line the walk leading to the flag pole. Unfortunately, we cannot plant along the walk way as the water supply is limited. We are hoping in 2016 we will no longer need a bucket brigade. Therefore, we are having to pace our volunteer, as our constant gardener, Joe Artim, has been busy with the hundreds of new plantings along Eric Barnes Heroes Walk. Admiral King Day is being suggested by the State of Ohio and is going through the process of recognition.

Eric Barnes’ Heroes Walk

Phase two of the Marine Monument garden has literally grown to be a beautiful and peaceful place, thanks to the design and co-ordinated plantings. The plants represent the red and gold of the US Marine’s flag and the red, white and blue of the United Sates flag. This year there have been nearly 200 new plantings of shrubs and perennials along the walkway. We were also pleased to get donations – in kind of trees and plants and shrubs and once again Don Mould’s have been very generous to the site. Chuck Becker for his donation of trees, Lupines and daisies. Donation of a new US Marine Flag by Mr. K. Kramer replacing the torn one earlier this year

You literally CAN walk with the butterflies along the path as there are now 26 butterfly bushes lining the walk. The gardens are maturing and the fragrances carried on the breeze are delightful, thanks to the planting design of Joe and Ariel.The Crime Watch Program continues to quietly watch out for neighbors.

Lorain 365

Outreach and Promotions Committee

Once more the committee decorated for the Trains and Trees at Black river Landing this year the Lilac tree was replaced with Lorain’s Industry tree. The tree designed by Renee Dore, had representation of Lorain’s industry past and present. This tree was especially thought provoking due to the loss of those recognizable industries. The Maritime Tree was also displayed this year. Thanks once again to Frank and Carolyn Sipkovsky, Renee Dore, Lisa Miller, The Weismans, Ernest Ritchey and Gavin Beres .

Renee Dore has also continue to be our “speaker’s bureau” giving talks to various organizations.

Peggy Gillmore-(Josephine Jean) Gillmore4th Street, Lorain Ohio

Following up on finding a home for some of the artifacts from Peggy Gillmore’s basket. I am pleased to say we donated the original hand – drawn early map of the neighborhood to the Mayor’s office, which was framed, takes pride of place on the 7th floor.

Handwritten Gillmore Map date unknown

Matt Weisman graciously donated framed prints of the maps of early Lorain , now on the walls of city council

We also were able to give to the Office of the Mayor and the citizens of Lorain the United States Flag that flew over the Nation’s Capital, (boxed for display) along with the proclamation honoring the young men from Lorain who gave their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.

We returned the old pulpit Bible from the latter 1800’s (damaged when the church was hit by the 1924 tornado)’s to Rev. Donahue and Christian Temple Disciples of Christ (5th Street). Gary Fischer (CVSI Executive Board member) an architect was given the old blue prints for Mayor Braun’s house on 5th and Oberlin. .

Our financials for the year end as follows. However once again for every dollar donated 100% of the donation went toward the project for which it was donated. This is an “ALL” Volunteer organization

We had a total of cash donations in 2015 of $1,546.10 and our cash expenses came to $913.92for all projects. A full accounting is available upon request.

As you can see our volunteers, partnerships and in kind donors are the power that keeps the projects running. Without the donations of plants, rope, trees, aggregate, concrete, paint, sealer, publicity, photographs and “at cost” and manpower none of these projects could be accomplished and maintained. Our biggest expense is the cost of solar lighting and batteries every year.

Our wish list includes WATER and ELECTRICITY. The in-kind donations from our supporters are, by my estimation, 3 times the monetary value and are priceless. However all cash donations are gratefully accepted and CVSI is a 501c3 – Thank You

Thank you Loraine for this report and all that you do also for Charleston Village and this organization. Thanks to everyone who volunteers their time and helps with all of the projects here in Lorain’s oldest neighborhood. We can all be very proud of the historical and civic significance of each of the ongoing projects. Thanks again, Renee

2.Rich Robbin | January 25, 2016 at 2:48 pm

Thank you ALL for supporting Charleston Village. It is quite visible when driving thru the area!

3.Joel Arredondo | January 25, 2016 at 8:04 pm

Thank your Lorraine and all your CV board members and volunteers for all their efforts and dedication to preserving this great legacy. Joyce and I will be mailing in our 2016 donation. I will ask City Council officials to consider making donation to CV

4.thatwoman | January 25, 2016 at 9:07 pm

Thank you Joel , you have always been generous in your donations. All support is greatly appreciated, I am not sure if the new council members even know of our existence 😉 and the site on 1st and Hamilton 2nd and Oberlin is a huge site and I think one of Lorain’s best kept secrets….

5.Doris Wenzel | January 26, 2016 at 3:26 pm

Thank you, Lorraine, for your unending dedication to the preservation of Charleston Village and to all the volunteers and organizations that make all of the projects possible!